Motion-picture player piano



May 28, 1929. c. BREITMEYER I MOTION PICTURE PLAYER PIANO Filed Aug. 25, 1927 INVENTOR Uha/I'Zwlir'att Patented May 28, 1929. I

CHARLES BREITMEYEB, OF UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY.

MOTION -PICT1'.TRE PLAYER PIANO.

Application filed August 23, 1927. Serial No. 214,794.

[This invention relates generally to player pianos, and has more particular reference to motion eture apparatus in combination therewith.

3 The invention has for an object the pro vision of motion picture apparatus in combination with a player piano, so'that at certain times during the operation of the piano, moving pictures are produced.

The invention refers only to player pianos, and other'musical instruments which "are automatically operated by a perforated music roll. A series of pictures are printed in a row on the music roll, the pictures preferably being related to the song on the musi roll, and after the roll has been played in a piano, and is being rewound, as is customary, the moving pictures are observable.

The front of the piano has an opening through which the pictures may be seen; As the pictures pass this opening, a shutter is periodically interposed between the opening and the moving strip of pictures, so that observers through the opening see 111013101! pictures. f

The invention has for a further object the provision of a device of the class mentioned, Which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable costs,

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. I

Referring to the drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

- Fig. l is a perspective view of a player piano constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. '1.

F ig 3 is a fragmentary view lookin in the diiustion of line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrows 4tof Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary face view of the music roll of the device.

The reference numeral 10 represents generally a player piano having a slidable door 11'with a knob 12 for forming a closure to the music roll chamber. A music roll 13 provided with perforations 1 1 acting as notes for a' musical selection is supported between the customary music roll rollers 15,

andpasses the air suction tube 16 connected by tubes 17 to the various keys of the piano. The door 11 has a flanged opening 18.

A shutter 19 is interposed between the opening 18 and the music roll 13. The shuttervis supported by an arm 20 pivotally supported by bolt 21 provided with an enlarged head 22 slidably adjustable in a guideway 23 in a support 24. A spring 25' normally pulls the shutter 19 down against a stop 26, so as to cover the opening 18. The free extremity of arm 20 is beveled as at 27 and this beveled end is engaged by a finger 28 pivoted to bracket 29. The finger 28 is urged against stop 30 projecting from the bracket 29 by clip 31 011 the finger. The bracket 29 is slidable on rods 32, and a spring 33 normally urges the bracket 29, and finger 28 a spring 33-which engages a.

downwards so as to force the free end of arm 20 downwards, and the shutter upwards against the restraining action of spring 25. When the shutter is completely moved from the opening 18, the finger 28 slips from the bevel 27 and spring 25 returns the shutter to closed position. a

The top roller 15 is provided with a worm pinion 35 meshing with worm 36 on shaft 37 supported by standard 38 and provided with a gear 39 meshing with pinion 40 on shaft 41 provided with wheel 42, A cam 43 is adjustably arranged on the edge of wheel 4:2 by means of screws 44. The cam' 13 is positioned to catch beneath bracket 29 and raise this bracket against .the downward action of spring 33. The music roll 13 has pictures 15 printed thereon, and has end perforations 46 engageable by pins 47 projecting from roller 15 to prevent slippings.

The operation of the'de'vice may be traced by starting at the upper roller 15 which .is turned by customary mechanism not shown on the drawing to rewind the music sheet 13. The rotation of the roller is transmitted to the wheel 42 and cam 43 raises the bracket 29. The finger 28 bends downwards as it is forced pa'st arm 20 and thereafter the finger straightens out above the arm. The wheel 42 soon reaches a point where cam 43 drops the bracket 29 and then spring 33 opens the shutter li) which is immediately closed by spring 25 as the finger 28 slips from the beveled end 27 Changing the position of bolt 21 causes a change in the timing of the shutter. The pictures 45 on the music sheet 13 pass the opening 18 and the. gears con-' necting roller ,15 and wheel 42 are so constructed to synchronize the pictures with the Opening an closing of the shutter 19, that is, when a picture is aligned with the opening 18, the shutter Opens and closes, and

- when the next picture is aligned with. the

opening, the shutter againoperates, and so on. Observers looking through the open- 18,'of course, see motion pictures.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form, construction and arrangement of the several elements employed, it will be understood that the device is, nevertheless, susceptible of considerable modification therein, and I therefore reserve the right and privilege of resorting to all such changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:.

1. In combination with a player piano, a music roll therefor having moving pictures printed; thereon, an opening in the piano I through which the pictures may be viewed,

ter, pivoted intermediate of its ends to a bolt adjustably arranged, the free end of the arm being beveled, means for norm'ally urging the shutter to maintain itsposition" behind the opening, a finger engageable with the beveled end'of the arm and means for periodically causing the finger to engage the bevel, and to move the arm to move the shutter from the opening in I synchronism with the display of a picture at said open- 1n f ln testimony whereof 'I have afiixed'my signature.

CHARLES BREITMEYER. 

